crypto: af_alg - zero initialize memory allocated via sock_kmalloc
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 10 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-119 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: af_alg - zero initialize memory allocated via sock_kmalloc Several crypto user API contexts and requests allocated with sock_kmalloc() were left uninitialized, relying on callers to set fields explicitly. This resulted in the use of uninitialized data in certain error paths or when new fields are added in the future. The ACVP patches also contain two user-space interface files: algif_kpp.c and algif_akcipher.c. These too rely on proper initialization of their context structures. A particular issue has been observed with the newly added 'inflight' variable introduced in af_alg_ctx by commit: 67b164a871af ("crypto: af_alg - Disallow multiple in-flight AIO requests") Because the context is not memset to zero after allocation, the inflight variable has contained garbage values. As a result, af_alg_alloc_areq() has incorrectly returned -EBUSY randomly when the garbage value was interpreted as true: https://github.com/gregkh/linux/blame/master/crypto/af_alg.c#L1209 The check directly tests ctx->inflight without explicitly comparing against true/false. Since inflight is only ever set to true or false later, an uninitialized value has triggered -EBUSY failures. Zero-initializing memory allocated with sock_kmalloc() ensures inflight and other fields start in a known state, removing random issues caused by uninitialized data.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.38 and later | 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.160, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.3, 6.19 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.38 and later Fixed in 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.160, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.3, 6.19 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 10
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.38.1 to before 5.10.248; 5.11 to before 5.15.198; 5.16 to before 6.1.160; 6.2 to before 6.6.120; 6.7 to before 6.12.64; 6.13 to before 6.18.3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.38:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.38 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.19 rc8 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.38.1 to before 5.10.248; 5.11 to before 5.15.198; 5.16 to before 6.1.160; 6.2 to before 6.6.120; 6.7 to before 6.12.64; 6.13 to before 6.18.3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.38:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.38 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.19 rc8 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.160, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.3, 6.19
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2026:43307 Released 2026-07-22 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.29.1.el9_8 +9
- RHSA-2026:42919 Released 2026-07-21 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.37.1.el10_2 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:43307 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:43307 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:43307 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:43307 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42919 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:43307 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-71113
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6h29-m378-mh9x
- 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
References
Patch 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e125c8e346e4eb7b3e854c862fcb4392bc13ddba
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/543bf004e4eafbb302b1e6c78570d425d2ca13a0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f81244fd6b14fecfa93b66b6bb1d59f96554e550
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/84238876e3b3b262cf62d5f4d1338e983fb27010
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a4b65523608974a81edbe386f8a667a3e10c726
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/51a5ab36084f3251ef87eda3e6a6236f6488925e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f6e309328d53a10c0fe1f77dec2db73373179b6
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- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2025-71113 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-71113 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6h29-m378-mh9x · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-71113 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences